The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the government’s sky-high tribunal fees are unlawful, accepting UNISON’s argument that the fees are restricting working people’s access to justice. What’s more, the government will have to refund any fees paid since 2013 — at a…Read more…
‘No fault’ families rocket
Record number of people are being evicted from their homes, disturbing new statistics reveal. More than 100 families a day are losing their homes, according to shocking analysis from Cambridge…Read more…
Employment Tribunal Fees found to be unlawful
Following UNISON’s legal challenge, the Supreme Court has, today, ruled that employment tribunal fees are unlawful because they price workers out of accessing justice and discriminate against women. This means that from today, employment tribunal fees will no longer apply and that all previous fees…Read more…
Sit down to talks plea
Unite has warned that the management of HTC Wolffkran is unnecessarily increasing industrial tensions, after the company issued a press release which distorted the information concerning the ongoing…Read more…
‘Perfect storm’
A perfect storm of pay austerity, Brexit and constant reorganisation has caused the ‘very disturbing’ rise in the number of vacancies in the NHS in England, Unite, the country’s largest union, said…Read more…
‘Totally deserved boost’
Unite hailed the skills and efficiency of BMW’s UK workforce as the car maker today (Tuesday July 25) announced that the next generation electric Mini will be built in the UK – at Cowley,…Read more…
Campaigners and staff wish the NHS Happy birthday
On 5th July 2017 the NHS was 69. The TUC, health unions and Health Campaign Together activists joined forces outside hospitals around the country to raise awareness about the impact of the squeeze on…Read more…
Clear our names
This week (July 24) marks the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexual acts between men aged over 21. While the 1967 sexual offences act was a momentous step forward for LGBT…Read more…
A right to request fixed hours is no right at all
The Taylor Review wants those on zero hours contracts to have a legal right to request a contract that guarantees hours that better reflect the actual hours they work. A right to request fixed hours, however, is no right at all. It’s more of a vague hope. To see why, we just need to…Read more…
Why don’t companies recognise that unions are essential in the fight against modern slavery?
Everyone, it seems, is now committed to ending forced labour and child labour. Governments, international institutions, NGOs and businesses have come under enormous pressure to do something — and to be seen to be doing something. A good example of this is a resolution on forced labour passed…Read more…
‘No stone left unturned’
Striking workers at Mears in Manchester are widening their campaign activity to pressurise shareholders and win the hearts and minds of tenants affected by the dispute over pay differentials. …Read more…
Low pay protest
Pressure is growing on the private contractor Serco as hundreds of low paid workers at Barts Health NHS Trust prepare for a two week strike from tomorrow (Tuesday July 25) in their continuing fight…Read more…
‘Flesh on the bones
A post-Brexit industrial strategy must include comprehensive polices on the three pillars of infrastructure, innovation and investment, Unite said today (Monday July 24). While welcoming…Read more…
‘Love is love…’
More than 40,000 people attended a Unite-sponsored Gay Pride celebration in Hull – 2017 City of Culture – on Saturday. Unite provided £17,000 for the festival, which included a massive parade…Read more…
Britain needs EU midwives – the government must make them feel welcome
England’s maternity services are desperately short of midwives. In October 2015, health secretary Jeremy Hunt told the House of Commons that ‘we need more midwives’. But since then, the number has increased by less than 0.7%. Across England, we have a shortage of around 3,500. Of the…Read more…
Why multipliers matter
“Nothing in economics is more potent than a simple idea whose time has come”, Gavyn Davies, October 21st 2012 The week before last, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published a new assessment of ‘fiscal risks’ to the UK. Reporting on threats to the public finances, they warned against new…Read more…
Refuse workers walk out
Unite has accused Birmingham city council waste service bosses of ‘playing games’ and being more interested in ‘conflict’ than finding a negotiated settlement to an ongoing dispute over plans to axe…Read more…
‘Fearless campaigner’
The spirit of GMB legend Mary Turner will shine on through the many men and women she inspired to join the trade union movement, said Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary. Speaking on the…Read more…
Our enforcement system isn’t working. What’s the Taylor Review going to do about it?
The Taylor Review includes a section on “fairer enforcement”, which concludes with the statement: “The two-tier enforcement framework in the UK works”. No it doesn’t. Two things immediately spring to mind that show this statement isn’t true: Employment tribunal fees price people out of justice….Read more…
The BBC can afford millions for the talent, but other staff are denied a fair wage
Over the last two days, we’ve seen wall-to-wall coverage of what the BBC’s leading lights get paid. That’s not surprising. Few stories offer such a perfect mix of celebrity gossip, financial drama and political intrigue. Of course journalists are going to jump on this one. But…Read more…